Method and means of relining curves in railroads



y 1929- F. s. KIMBALL r I 1,713,438

METHOD AND MEANS OF RELINING CURVES IN RAILROADS Filed May 7, 1928l/we/yfr fFeaS. Min/val?! Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

FRED STANLEY KIMBALL, OF BIG FLATS, NEW YORK.

METHOD AND MEANS OF RETAINING CURVES IN RAILROADS.

Application filed May 7, 1928, Serial No. 275,871, and in Canada July11, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in a method of relining curvesincluding spirals, complex and reversed curves, in connection withrailroad systems and the like, and the objects of the invention are toprovide a'simple and efficient means of relining and truing curves whichcan be attended to with a minimum of time, necessarily reducing the costof maintenance. I

A further object is to provide a. comparatively quick, accurate andpractical method of relining to replace the methods at present in vogue,and avoid the inaccuracy thereof.

Vith these andother objects in view, the method consists essentially ofadjustment of the rails to their proper degree of curvature by'meansofthe use of a line extending between two rails, anda hand rule or thelike in the hands of the foreman, whereby the amount of displacement maybe measured and adjustment effected successively.

The previous methods consist 1n r ev1ewing the curves and marking ateach oint the amount of displacement of the rail whereby the rails areafterwards thrown into hne with the mark previously left.

In this instance with the throwing of each rail into position thefurther ends of the rails necessarily are displaced and thls necessarilymeans that the markings effected will not be accurate. In other wordsthe markings are taken from points that require subsequent adjustmentand therefore cannot be accurate, the subsequent displacement of therails resulting in direct inaccuracy throughout.

The present method will be more fully understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings which form part of the present disclosure and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical view of a simple curve, disclosing thevarious positions of the line during the relining method.

Fig. 2 discloses a plan view of curved rails, the upper rail beingspiralled to the point of curvature or tangency.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, 1, 2 and 3indicate the first three rails and 4 indicates the line or cord, etc,used with the present method of relining the curve shown in eachinstance extending between the rail joints, the first three beingindicated at 5, 6 and 7.

The present method embodies the use of line 4 of predetermined length,in this in- A, one end of the line is held at the first joint at A, andthe line is stretched to the second succeeding rail joint 6, asillustrated,

in the form of a chord across a circle, and measurement of the'degree ofcurvature is taken along the middle ordinate of the first rail indicatedat 5.

Preliminarily on thecurve each rail is rapidly inspected in this mannerin order to ascertain the degree of curvature and an average is thentaken to indicate the degree of the curve. In my experience I have foundin preliminarily inspect-ing curves before relinement, that inpractically all cases a number of the rails will be found to readapproximately the same and at least it will be found that two rails willapproximate exactly. In this manner the degree of ourvature can bereadily ascertained.

The method is then followed, as stated, from the point of curvature ortangency in the same manner with the required degree known from thepreliminary inspection. The line is stretched between the two firstpoints A and 6 (second successive oint) and by means of a rule in thehands of the foreman, the degree of curvature is marked off along themiddle ordinate of the chord, the joints being then immediately throwninto accurate position, measurement being on the middle ordinate fromthe line to the heel of the rail. Joint 5 is then in accurate positionand the method is carried further for the adjustment of the nextsucceeding joint, wherein the line is taken from joint 5, stretched toand held at joint 7, and the same steps followed until joint 6 is throwninto accurate adjustment.

This is followed throughout in each succeeding joint of the curve untilthe curve has been relined to the proper degree. The same method isfollowed throughout in relining spirals, complex and reverse curves. Inthe relining of curves it has been my general practice to spiral suchcurves, which provides for more tangent track and increases efliciency.In this instance on the relinement chord, which is directly at the jointof the tion;,two linemen, one man for ascertaining of spirals, themethod above explained is followed, starting at the point-of curvatureor tangency, working to point of full degreeor vice versa, increasing orlessening the degree as the case maybe. The first rail joint is throwninto accurate position, the process of spiralling is then followed, eachrail joint being positioned in accurate line according to gradualincrease or decrease in the curve.

From the foregoing it will be seen that'I have devised a simple,practical and efficient method ofrelining curves, which when employedwill go far in reducing-the cost of maintenance. Three men are all thatare re quired for the work of prelim narily reviewing the curves; twolinemen and one man with a hand rule for ascertaining the degree ofcurvature and at the most five men when relining the curve by successiveoperation, within the scope of the claims constructe'dwithout departingfrom the spirit or scope thereof, it isintended that all mattercontained inthe present specification and accompanying drawings shall'beinterpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

-What I claim asmy invention is:

1. The method of relining curves and the like, which consists inpreliminarily reviewing the curve by means of a line stretched betweenthe extreme joints of two'adjoi'ning rails'repeated throughout thecurve, ascertainingthe correct degree of curvature by means of 'arule,.'with measurement along the middleordinate of the line, andaveraging each successive result, repeating such operationsuccessivelythroughout the curve and simultaneously throwing the intermediate jointsinto correct position with each successive accurate degree marking.

- 2. The method of relining curves and the like, which consists inpreliminarily review ing the curve, starting at the point of tangency orcurvature to ascertain the correct degree ofcurvaturethereof bymeans ofa'line stretched from said point to the second joint of the secondsuccessive rail, repeating said operation between the extreme oints ofeach two rails and ascertaining the degree of curvature by means of ahand rule placedalong the middle ordinate of the line, averaging theresult to obtain the correct'degree and repeating the operationthroughout the .whole curve, marking the correct degree of curvaturealong the middle ordinate ofeach successive joint, and simultaneouslywith each operation throwing, the intermediate joints into correctposition wit-h' 'each successive accurate. degree marking.

In witness whereof I 'ha ve hereunto set my hand. I v I FRED STANLEYKIMBALL.

